KITARA

The Misa Digital Guitar, The KITARA, is an experimental new instrument, similar to an electric guitar in shape, but with an interface designed to easily and intuitively control digital audio.

Most musicians today use some form of audio synthesis or sampling in their music. Virtually any type of sound can be created using these methods. Traditionally, digital piano keyboards have been the dominant instrument for controlling these sounds real-time in a musical setting.

This new instrument that not only unites traditional guitar playing technique with digital sound, but allows digital guitarists to use playing techniques that are not possible or comfortable on a digital keyboard.

GUITARS ELECTRIC are the UK agent and stockist for this amazing new instrument.

Have you got the talent and creativity to take digital guitar music into the next genration?

The Misa Kitara consists of three main components: a full fretboard, a multi-touch screen and an onboard polyphonic synthesizer with sounds and effects.

The kitara’s neck has 24 frets, but instead of strings each fret contains buttons.

You play notes by touching on the screen. The position and movement of your touch determine how the sound is generated and processed.

You can apply a number of digital effects, including distortion, delay and modulation, and you can control these effects through the touch panel interface.

You can save sounds as presets, and you can swap preset files online.

You can assign one sound to all six strings, or assign different sounds to different strings. The kitara can control compatible MIDI devices too. Everything is configurable. It runs Linux and is open source.

In electronic music, the timbre (or colour) of the sound can be morphed in an infinite number of ways. For a guitar to accommodate this, the right hand needs more control than just plucking strings. You need to be able to control elements of the sound, such as sustain, pitch, filter or any other synthesizer parameter, in a way that has no physical constraints.

This was the thought process when designing the Misa Kitara. There are no strings on this instrument. The right hand doesn't pluck strings, it controls sound.

So don't compare the KITARA to acoustic guitars or electric guitars. Those are different instruments, for different art forms, for different music. This is electronic music, The KITARA is the Future!